Smokefree air laws and policies do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry, including restaurants, bars, and casinos. That's the conclusion of the Surgeon General's Report, 2006, which cited peer-reviewed studies based on empirical data, such as sales or revenue data, restaurant licenses, employment figures, etc.

Evaluating "conflicting" studies, the Report said, "All the studies that found a negative economic impact were supported by the tobacco industry." and were more likely to have used subjective outcome measures (for instance, proprietors' predictions), and not to have been subject to peer review (pages 649, 615, 616).

summary by New Jersey GASP

To see the sections of the Surgeon General's Report about casinos and economic effects, click here.

This page updated November 13, 2006